Popular messaging apps
You said:
give me a list of the top messaging apps in the world with the pros and cons and security implications of these various chat apps. sort them in order of popularity
ChatGPT said:
Thought for 4m 56s
Below is a practical “big picture” list of the most popular messaging apps globally, sorted by popularity using the best public numbers available (mostly monthly active users (MAU); for some apps, companies don’t publish MAU consistently, so I note the metric). Popularity shifts over time, but this is a solid current snapshot.
1) WhatsApp — ~3.0B MAU
Pros
- Massive global reach; easiest for “everyone’s already on it”
- Strong group chat + voice/video calling + cross-platform
Cons
- Spam/scams are common in many regions
- Feature-heavy; privacy settings take time to tune
Security implications
- End-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for messages/calls.
- Cloud backups can be a weak point unless you enable end-to-end encrypted backups.
- Meta still can learn a lot from metadata (who/when/how often), even if it can’t read message content.
2) WeChat (Weixin) — ~1.41B MAU
Pros
- The “everything app” in China (messaging + payments + services)
- Extremely strong network effects in Chinese-speaking communities
Cons
- Harder to use outside the WeChat ecosystem
- Accounts and access can be fragile (lockouts/verification issues)
Security implications
- Not end-to-end encrypted; messages are encrypted to the server, and WeChat servers can decrypt/read them.
- Documented censorship and monitoring dynamics (especially for China-registered users and sensitive topics).
3) Telegram — ~1.0B MAU
Pros
- Huge groups/channels; strong “broadcast” and community features
- Very fast, flexible, multi-device cloud sync
Cons
- Default chat model is “cloud first,” which has privacy tradeoffs
- Spam/impersonation can be an issue in public spaces
Security implications
- E2EE is NOT the default: only Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted.
- Regular “Cloud Chats” are stored on Telegram servers (encrypted, but Telegram’s architecture can access content under certain conditions).
- Cryptographers have long criticized Telegram’s choices around encryption design and defaults.
4) Facebook Messenger — ~942M “potential ad reach” (proxy for scale)
Pros
- Extremely common where Facebook is common
- Good for casual/social messaging; easy identity discovery via Facebook
Cons
- Facebook account tie-in; inbox noise/spam depending on settings
- Business messages and social graph can get messy
Security implications
- Meta has been rolling out default E2EE for personal chats/calls, plus “secure storage” (PIN/key) for restores across devices.
- Even with E2EE content, metadata and account-level signals still matter for privacy.
5) Snapchat — ~932M MAU
Pros
- “Ephemeral by default” feel reduces casual message permanence
- Great camera-first communication; strong youth adoption
Cons
- Not ideal for long threads, archiving, or “serious” collaboration
- Social engineering risk: screenshots, screen recordings, re-shares
Security implications
- Snap emphasizes encryption in transit/storage for providing the service (not a broad, always-on E2EE model like Signal).
- “My Eyes Only” is a notable privacy feature: locally protected/encrypted behind a passcode.
6) QQ — ~532M MAU
Pros
- Still widely used (especially historically) in China and by some communities abroad
- Rich features (gaming/social integrations)
Cons
- Less dominant than WeChat for many mainstream use cases today
- UI/UX can feel busy
Security implications
- Generally not positioned as an end-to-end encrypted messenger; treat it like a platform where the provider can access content (especially under local legal regimes).
7) Viber — (user counts vary; large global footprint)
Pros
- Common in specific regions (parts of Eastern Europe, MENA, etc.)
- Solid calling + messaging experience
Cons
- Less universal than WhatsApp/Telegram
- Discovery and anti-spam varies by region
Security implications
- Viber states it uses end-to-end encryption by default for 1-to-1 and group chats/calls (with some feature caveats).
8) Discord — ~200M MAU
Pros
- Best-in-class for communities, servers, channels, voice
- Powerful moderation tools and integrations
Cons
- Not built as a “private family chat” first
- Server culture varies wildly; can be noisy
Security implications
- Text DMs/channels are not end-to-end encrypted in the typical sense.
- Discord has rolled out E2EE for audio/video (DAVE) in some contexts, but that doesn’t equal “all messages are E2EE.”
9) LINE — ~196M MAU
Pros
- Very strong in Japan, Thailand, Taiwan (and diaspora)
- Great stickers, groups, and everyday utility features
Cons
- Less common outside its core regions
- Some features are ecosystem-specific
Security implications
- LINE’s E2EE system (“Letter Sealing”) is a major security feature; availability can depend on chat type / settings / version.
10) KakaoTalk — ~48.9M MAU (South Korea-focused)
Pros
- Dominant in South Korea; essential for local comms
- Good group and social features
Cons
- Less useful outside Korea unless your network uses it
- Some advanced privacy features are opt-in
Security implications
- “Secret Chat” / secure modes exist (implementation varies), but don’t assume every chat is end-to-end encrypted unless the app clearly labels it.
Quick “what should I use?” (based on your risk)
- Maximum privacy by default: Signal (not top-10 by size, but best default posture: always-on E2EE, minimal data philosophy).
- Mainstream E2EE + everyone has it: WhatsApp (then tighten backups + privacy settings).
- Big channels/communities: Telegram (just understand E2EE is not default).
- Avoid for sensitive content: apps that are not E2EE or operate under heavy monitoring/censorship regimes for your context (often WeChat/QQ, and many “social-first” chat platforms).
If you tell me your goal (privacy from advertisers? from platform staff? from government? from abusive ex? just avoiding scams?) I’ll rank these again for your threat model.
You said:
make a pintrest style infograpic about these
